TV station pulls anti-Shaheen ads off air

WASHINGTON (AP) — A super PAC's negative ads against Sen. Jeanne Shaheen were pulled off the air Wednesday after the New Hampshire Democrat's attorneys flagged inaccuracies in the spot.

Ending Spending Action Fund, a conservative outside group, claimed in ads that "Shaheen's wealth has surged while in public office." Her financial disclosure forms filed with the Senate show the opposite, with her personal wealth dropping by at least $562,000 and perhaps as much as $1 million.

The anti-spending group's 30- and 60-second ads had aired on Boston's NBC affiliate, WHDH. Boston's media market covers the population-heavy southern tier of New Hampshire and campaigns often buy airtime on those stations.

A spokeswoman for Ending Spending did not immediately respond to a message seeking reaction.

The ad spat comes as a poll shows the race between Shaheen and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown essentially tied. Shaheen for months had polled stronger than Brown, who moved to New Hampshire and has faced criticism that he is a carpet-bagger. But Shaheen's lead has essentially evaporated in public and party-funded polling.

Spending in New Hampshire already has topped $9 million and this week brought hundreds of thousands more.

New Hampshire's race is one of the handful that will decide which party controls the Senate for the final two years of President Barack Obama's term. If Republicans show a net gain of six seats, they will take control of the Senate for the first time since 2006's elections.

A pro-Brown super PAC, Independent Leadership for New Hampshire, earlier this week aired its first television ads. Brown's campaign also began running ads featuring Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a fellow New Hampshire Republican.

Shaheen's campaign on Wednesday launched its first negative ads against Brown, citing his votes for subsidies for energy companies.